Sporting caps

ABSTRACT

A method for constructing headwear improves upon the design and therefore the marketability of current headwear by fabricating components of headwear from materials which are the same as or substantially similar to those materials used in the manufacture of the outer surfaces of sporting goods and equipment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of applicationSer. No. 11/062,985 filed Feb. 22, 2005, currently pending, the entirecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to headwear, and more particularly to amethod for constructing baseball-style caps from materials which are thesame as or substantially similar to those used in manufacture of theouter surfaces of sporting goods such as footballs, baseballs,basketballs, golf balls, etc.; sporting equipment such as NASCAR®(professional race car) tires, etc. in the fabrication of the billand/or other components of the headwear.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As is well known, sports memorabilia is an enormous industry worldwide.Fans of particular sporting activities, teams, or players often want tofeel as though they themselves are participating in a sporting event.Fans will often have a ball or other piece of equipment on hand whenthey are watching a sporting event in order to better experience theenvironment of the sport. Additionally fans often purchase souvenirsthat are constructed and fabricated substantially similarly to theequipment and apparel used in the sport; for example, authentic jerseysare available for purchase with either the team name and/or a particularathlete's name thereon.

Headwear such as baseball-style caps, visors, etc. are among the mostpopular souvenirs and memorabilia sold and worn worldwide. Traditionalsporting caps are primarily constructed from a variety of textilesincluding cotton, polyester, wool, and various other fabrics. The billof the cap is generally constructed using a rigid material covered by afabric. Heretofore headwear including one or more components constructedfrom components of sporting equipment have not been available.

The present invention comprises an improvement over the design andconstruction of traditional sporting headwear. In accordance with thebroader aspects of the invention, components of sporting headwear areconstructed from materials that are the same as or substantially similarto materials used in the manufacture of the outer surfaces of equipmentused in the play or operation of the sport. The result is headwearhaving components that replicate the appearance of a particular sportinggood or piece of sporting equipment.

In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention, a sportingcap representing a particular sport, team, or league has the billconstructed from the materials that are the same as or substantiallysimilar to the materials used to construct a sporting good or anessential piece of equipment used in the represented sport. In additionto or alternative to the bill, panels of the cap may be constructed frommaterials that are the same as or substantially similar to thosematerials used in the manufacture of the outer surfaces of equipmentused in the play or operation of the sport. For example, a caprepresenting a NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE® (professional football) teammay have the bill and/or panels of the cap constructed from the sameleather material used in the manufacture of footballs used in the playof the game. Alternatively a cap representing auto racing or aparticular race driver may have the bill and/or panels of the capconstructed from a material representative of the rubber used in thefabrication of the tires used on race cars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had byreference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a sporting cap of the presentinvention having the bill fabricated from materials used in themanufacture of the outer surfaces of a football;

FIG. 2 is a view of the inside of the cap shown in FIG. 1 illustratingthe bottom side of the bill fabricated from materials used in themanufacture of the outer surfaces of a football;

FIG. 3 is view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternative construction ofa sporting cap wherein the laces of a football are positionedtransversely across the top side of the bill;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing another alternativeconstruction of a sporting cap wherein still other components of the capare fabricated from materials used in the manufacture of the outersurfaces of a football;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing another alternativeconstruction of a sporting cap wherein yet other components of the capare fabricated from materials used in the manufacture of the outersurfaces of a football;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 wherein the bill of the cap isfabricated from materials used in the manufacture of the outer surfacesof a baseball;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 wherein the bill of the cap isfabricated from materials used in the manufacture of the outer surfacesof a basketball;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 wherein the bill of the cap isfabricated from materials used in the manufacture of the outer surfacesof a golf ball;

FIG. 9 is a view showing an alternative embodiment of the cap shown inFIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1 wherein the bill of the cap isfabricated from materials representative of those used in themanufacture of the outer surfaces of a NASCAR® (race car) tire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the Drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there isshown a cap 10 constructed in accordance with the method of the presentinvention. The cap is constructed by sewing a plurality of panels 12together to form a dome-shaped crown 14. Attached at the base of thecrown 14 is a bill 16 which protrudes substantially perpendiculartherefrom. The panels 12 are fabricated from textile materials such ascotton, wool, polyester, and other suitable materials known to thoseskilled in the art for use in the manufacture of sportswear and apparel.The bill 16 comprises a top surface 18, a center deck 20, and a bottomsurface 22. The top surface 18 is fabricated from a leather orleather-like material that is the same as or substantially similar tothe materials used in the manufacture of the outer surfaces of afootball. Sewn into the center of the top surface 18 are laces 24simulating the lacing down the center of a football. The center deck 20may be formed from any rigid material such as plastic, cardboard, andother suitable materials known to those skilled in the art for use inthe manufacture of athletic caps and the like.

The bottom surface 22 may be fabricated from a textile material such ascotton, wool, polyester, and other suitable materials known to thoseskilled in the art for use in the manufacture of sportswear and apparel.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the bottom surface 22 may befabricated from a leather or leather-like material that is the same asor substantially similar to the material used in the manufacture of theouter surfaces of a football and includes laces 24 identical to thosesewn into the top surface 18. As will be understood the cap 10 may havea bill 16 wherein either the top surface 18, the bottom surface 22, orboth are fabricated using a material that is the same as orsubstantially similar to those materials used in the manufacture of theouter surfaces of a piece of sporting equipment such as a football.

FIG. 3 illustrates the cap 10 similarly to FIG. 1 except having the topsurface 18 of the bill 16 fabricated from a leather or leather-likematerial that is the same as or substantially similar to the materialused in the manufacture of the outer surfaces of a football with laces24 sewn thereinto transversely across the bill 16.

FIG. 4 illustrates the cap 10 having only the panel 12 located directlyabove the bill 16 fabricated from a leather or leather-like materialthat is the same as or substantially similar to the material used in themanufacture of the outer surfaces of a football.

FIG. 5 illustrates the cap 10 having the panel 12 located directly abovethe bill 16 and the two panels 12 adjacent thereto fabricated from aleather or leather-like material that is the same as or substantiallysimilar to the material used in the manufacture of the outer surfaces ofa football.

FIGS. 6 through 10 illustrate the cap 10 having the top surface 18fabricated from materials which are the same as or substantially similarto those used to fabricate the outer surface of equipment used in othersporting activities. FIG. 6 illustrates the cap 10 with a top surface 18fabricated from a leather or leather-like material that is the same asor substantially similar to those materials that are used in themanufacture of the outer surfaces of a baseball. Stitches 30 are sewninto the top surface 18 in a pattern simulating the stitching on abaseball.

FIG. 7 illustrates the cap 10 having the top surface fabricated from asynthetic rubber, a rubber-like material, or leather that is the same asor substantially similar to the materials used in the manufacture of theouter surfaces of a basketball. Indentions 32 are formed into thematerial to simulate the appearance of a basketball.

FIG. 8 illustrates the cap 10 having the top surface 18 fabricated fromthe one of the various synthetic materials that are the same as orsubstantially similar to those used in the manufacture of the cover ofgolf balls such as urethane elastomer, surelyn, and other suitablematerials used in the manufacture of the cover of a golf ball. Theparticular material selected depends on the type of ball the purchaserprefers, or the material can be the same as the ball used by a preferredprofessional golfer.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cap 40 comprising a second embodiment of theinvention. Many of the component parts of the cap 40 are substantiallyidentical in construction and function to component parts of the cap 10illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 and described hereinabove inconjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated inFIG. 9 with the same reference numerals utilized above in thedescription of the cap 10, but are differentiated therefrom by means ofa prime (′) designation.

Instead of a crown, the cap 40 comprises one panel formed into acircular band 42 instead of a crown. The front of the band 42 is tallerin height than the remaining circumference thereof. The band 42 may be afull circle, or may have a connector 43 between the ends of the band tofacilitate a better fit to varying sizes of human heads. The connector43 may be fabricated from an elastic material or another pliablematerial known to those skilled in the art as suitable for sizingbaseball style caps.

The bill 16′ is attached at the front of the band 42 and protrudessubstantially perpendicularly therefrom. The top surface 18′ isfabricated from one of the various synthetic material that are the sameas or substantially similar to those used in the manufacture of thecover of golf balls such as urethane elastomer, surelyn, and othersuitable materials used in the manufacture of the cover of a golf ball.The material used could vary depending on the type of ball the purchaserprefers, or the material could be the same as the ball used by apreferred professional golfer.

FIG. 10 illustrates the cap 10 having the top surface 18 fabricated froma rubber material that simulates the rubber materials used in themanufacture of the outer surfaces of race car tires. The top surface 18is formed with treads 44 to simulate the appearance of a race car tire.

The present invention has been illustrated in the form of baseball-stylecaps and sun visors, however the method is equally applicable to otherforms of headwear. Although preferred embodiments of the invention havebeen illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in theforegoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the inventionis not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerousrearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elementswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. An article of headwear comprising: a circular band having a base; abill attached to the base of the circular band and having a top surface,a rigid center deck, and a bottom surface; and at least one surface ofthe bill comprising a material selected from the group consisting ofmaterials identical to materials used in manufacture of the outersurfaces of sporting goods and materials substantially similar tomaterials used in manufacture of the outer surfaces of sporting goods.2. The headwear of claim 1 wherein the surface of the bill comprises amaterial used in the manufacture of the outer surface of a football. 3.The headwear of claim 1 wherein the surface of the bill comprises amaterial used in the manufacture of the outer surface of a baseball. 4.The headwear of claim 1 wherein the surface of the bill comprises amaterial used in the manufacture of the outer surface of a basketball.5. The headwear of claim 1 wherein the surface of the bill comprises amaterial used in the manufacture of the outer surface of a golf ball. 6.The headwear of claim 1 wherein the surface of the bill comprises amaterial simulating the material used in the manufacture of the outersurface of a race car tire.
 7. An article of headwear comprising: aplurality of panels sewn together to form a dome-shaped crown; a billattached to the base of the crown and having a top surface, a rigidcenter deck, and a bottom surface; and at least one of the panels of thecrown comprising a material selected from the group consisting ofmaterials identical to materials used in manufacture of the outersurfaces of sporting goods and materials substantially similar tomaterials used in manufacture of the outer surfaces of sporting goods.8. The headwear of claim 7 wherein the panel of the crown comprises amaterial used in the manufacture of the outer surface of a football. 9.The headwear of claim 7 wherein the panel of the crown comprises amaterial used in the manufacture of the outer surface of a baseball. 10.The headwear of claim 7 wherein the panel of the crown comprises amaterial used in the manufacture of the outer surface of a basketball.11. The headwear of claim 7 wherein the panel of the crown comprises amaterial used in the manufacture of the outer surface of a golf ball.12. The headwear of claim 7 wherein the panel of the crown comprises amaterial simulating the material used in the manufacture of the outersurface of a race car tire.
 13. The headwear of claim 7 wherein at leastone surface of the bill comprises a material selected from the groupconsisting of materials identical to materials used in manufacture ofthe outer surfaces of sporting goods and materials substantially similarto materials used in manufacture of the outer surfaces of sportinggoods.
 14. A method for constructing headwear of the type having a crownand bill having a top surface, a rigid center deck, and a bottom surfacesecured to the base of the crown comprising: providing a plurality ofpanels each having opposed edges; securing the plurality of panelstogether at the edges thereof to form a crown having a base; providing abill having top and bottom surfaces; securing the bill to the base ofthe crown; selecting a material from the group consisting of materialsidentical to materials used in manufacture of the outer surfaces ofsporting goods and materials substantially similar to materials used inmanufacture of the outer surfaces of sporting goods; and fabricating asurface of the bill from the selected material.
 15. The method forconstructing headwear according to claim 14 further comprisingfabricating the bottom surface of the bill from a material selected fromthe group consisting of materials identical to materials used inmanufacture of the outer surfaces of sporting goods and materialssubstantially similar to materials used in manufacture of the outersurfaces of sporting goods.
 16. The method for constructing headwearaccording to claim 15 wherein at least one of the plurality of panels isfabricated from a material selected from the group consisting ofmaterials identical to materials used in manufacture of the outersurfaces of sporting goods and materials substantially similar tomaterials used in manufacture of the outer surfaces of sporting goods.